1. Episode 1 ‘Revolution’, The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization (PBS)

2. Episode 1 ‘Revolution’, The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization (PBS)
Kleisthenes – an Athenian born into an aristocratic family, mid 6th century
6th Century Athens – a small and relatively insignificant town built round the acropolis
Mud-brick houses, no sewerage, life-expectancy < 50
Dominated by aristocrats. Ordinary people had no part or share in power

3. Episode 1 ‘Revolution’, The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization (PBS)
Terrain unlike that of the flat river-based empires of Egypt and Persia
Independent city-states
Sparta was the polis most likely to dominate Greece
Sparta – austere and militaristic
Sparta dominated southern Peloponnesus, ruled over helots

4. 561 – 527 BC: Rule of Pisistratus
Rules as a tyrant (autocrat – sole ruler) for 19 of these years
Generally benevolent
- Challenged power of aristocrats

5. 527 – 510 BC: Hippias
– Becomes a cruel despot after his brother, Hipparchus, is murdered in 514 BCE - Athenian opponents successfully enlisted Sparta’s help. Spartan forces ultimately triumphed in 510 BCE. Hippias exiled.

6. 510 – 508 BC: Civil War
- Isagoras (with support of Spartan King Cleomenes) takes control but he antagonises people by, amongst other things, dissolving the council – Cleisthenes and his clan (the Alcmaeonid family) overthrow Isagoras

7. 508 BC: birth of Athenian democracy
Cleisthenes’ reforms the Athenian political system
Created tribes that reduced the influence of geographic and family loyalties
Introduced sortition
(May have) introduced ostracism